Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley holds some hope that winger Jared Polec will reject a multi-million dollar offer to join AFL rivals North Melbourne.
Polec, out of contract at season's end, is considering an offer from North which exceeds what Port has tabled in both money and length of tenure.
Hinkley admits the longer the 25-year-old delays his decision, the more it appears he's leaving Port.
"We're educated people aren't we, that is what it looks and feels sometimes," Hinkley told reporters on Thursday.
"But ... he has always said he wanted to stay and hang around and play at Port Adelaide.
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"Like the season, nothing is done until it's done."
Polec could play his last game for the Power on Friday night against Essendon.
Ninth-placed Port must beat the Bombers at Adelaide Oval and then hope Gold Coast upset Geelong the next day to have any chance of sneaking into the finals.
Polec, who joined Port for the 2014 season after three years at Brisbane, is favourite to win the Power's club champion award after turning in a fine season despite the uncertainty about his future.
"Jared has been in really good form, he has been able to play week-in, week-out really strong football for us," Hinkley said.
"So we expect that again from him tomorrow night.
"And then he'll have some decisions to make after that, but he has got a big role tomorrow night to play for us."
Port stalwart Justin Westhoff is also yet to sign a contract for next year but Hinkley expected the utility, who turns 32 in October, to remain at Alberton.
"He is working through that, I don't think there's any issues," Hinkley said.
"That is one I'm confident about."
